ORLANDO, Fla. – A 45-year-old Orlando man was arrested Tuesday, accused of throwing a flamingo to the ground at Busch Gardens and injuring the bird so badly that it had to be euthanized.
Joseph Anthony Carrao was arrested on charges of animal cruelty.
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Corrao and his family were visiting the Tampa theme park and went into the Jambo Junction animal viewing area, police said. According to Tampa police, Corrao reached into an animal pen and picked up a flamingo, and witnesses said he threw the bird, named Pinky, to the ground.
"Due to the defendant's unnecessary actions and excessive force, the flamingo had to be euthanized," police said in a statement.
Pinky was a 15-year-old Chilean flamingo, described by the park as a "diva extraordinaire."
"Today is a very sad day at Busch Gardens," the park said.
Corrao was arrested and taken to the Hillsborough County Jail.